Cirque du Soleil prepares for Dralion

Things to Do

Cirque du Soleil prepares for Dralion

Cirque de Soliel prepares for Dralion

Performers practice hoop diving during rehearsals. Derived from Chinese acrobatic tradition, the hoop diving act takes on a tribal flavor. Ten male artists dive and throw themselves like arrows through small wooden hoops.

Dual aerialists Lorant Markocsany and Amanda Orozco practice their aerial pas de deux performance.

Amanda Orozco is a blur of motion soaring over the seats at Philips Arena. Started in 1984 with 20 street performers, Cirque du Soleil is a major Quebec-based organization that has 5,000 employees, including more than 1,300 artists from nearly 50 different countries.

All that fancy foot work requires a lot of shoe maintenance as Josee Picard, left, and Emlie Mathiew, right can attest. The two women paint, polish, and varnish more than 200 pairs of shoes and boots worn by performers.

The performers have nothing on John Lyons, a scenic carpenter, who displays his agility as he tightens toe holds on a stage wall. "(Being a) carpenter means a little more these days in show business," Lyons says.

Amanda Orozco hangs from the neck of Lorant Markocsany high above the stage while the dual aerialists practice their aerial pas de deux performance.

Han Yuzhen practices her single hand balancing backstage during rehearsals Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2011 at Philips Arena in Atlanta. Cirque du Soleil is preparing for its Dralion show. Dralion will perform seven shows in Atlanta from Aug. 25-28 at Philips Arena and eight shows in Duluth from Aug. 31-Sept. 4 at The Arena at Gwinnett Center.

Performers take a break to watch dual aerialists Lorant Markocsany and Amanda Orozco begin their aerial pas de deux.

Costumes sit on shelves in the prop room behind the stage. The show's name, Dralion, is derived from two emblematic creatures: the dragon, symbolizing the East, and the lion, symbolizing the West.

Emlie Mathiew wears a protective mask while preparing more than 200 pairs of boots and shoes for opening night.

Performers are suspended from riggings onstage during rehearsals.

Dual aerialists Lorant Markocsany and Amanda Orozco practice their aerial pas de deux performance.

Acrobatic rigger Hugo Doucet, who works in the rigging above the stage, stays in shape with kickboxing workouts backstage using a dummy named "Bob."

1/13

Performers practice hoop diving during rehearsals. Derived from Chinese acrobatic tradition, the hoop diving act takes on a tribal flavor. Ten male artists dive and throw themselves like arrows through small wooden hoops.

Today's Gallery Headlines

Coca-Cola first ad

PHOTOS: Coca-Cola ads over time

Alonzo Herndon

PHOTOS: Philanthropists leave mark on Atlanta

gainesville, thomas county central

PHOTOS: Thomas County Central pummels Gainesville for 5A state title

jefferson, sandy creek

PHOTOS: Sandy Creek defeats Jefferson for Class 3A championship

More Galleries

the weeknd

PHOTOS: The Weeknd electrifies the crowd at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz stadium

PHOTOS: Beyonce fans saddle up for 4-day Atlanta Cowboy Carter Tour stop

PHOTOS: Beyoncé fans arrive for 4-night Atlanta Cowboy Carter Tour stop

College Park Juneteenth Parade standalone photo

PHOTOS: Juneteenth Parade held in College Park

4th Annual Rick Ross Car Show

PHOTOS: Rapper Rick Ross holds 4th annual car show in Fayetteville